There are numerous critical elements to consider when you select a vibration isolator. Depending on the application, you'll need to know things like the weight of equipment, the center of gravity, the size of equipment, type of disturbances, and more. Vibration of shock isolators work in very specific ways to protect and prolong the life of the equipment. For illustrative purposes, let's consider the process of assessing and selecting a vibration reduction isolator for an engine.
Many engines will have front engine mounts and rear engine mounts. These may require single or dual vibration isolators, depending on the application. There are three common solutions to isolate vibration in engines. At RPM, our clients typically use one of the following as they offer the ease of installation:
Tap here to see our vibration control products. In addition to stock parts, RPM also offers custom rubber vibration mounts and custom rubber vibration isolators. These are expertly designed and created to meet a unique need. Contact us to learn more.
Several diagnostic or assessment questions should be asked. These include things like:
These and other important questions will be used to create a profile of the application. This will ensure that you get the right vibration-isolating part.
Being able to use simple questions to determine the right application is the result of deep knowledge of physics and mechanics in play. One of the key areas of knowledge that our RPM engineers are intimately familiar with is the degrees of freedom.
There are six ways that vibration or oscillation occurs. These are known as the six degrees of freedom. These motion paths determine the disturbances being fired and projected reactions. They are best understood in two distinct categories.
Within this category are three types of motion:
These are translation modes.
Within this category are three more types of motion that illustrate the rotation along each axis:
Knowing exactly how a machine or engine is moving is the only way to apply the right solution.
In engine isolation, there are a few typical scenarios where we apply solutions. They serve as helpful illustrations of the concepts outlined above.
These are challenging to isolate. They are complex because they have low frequency and multiple directions of excitations. The issues addressed are:
It’s essential that the motion path and isolation mode are taken care of for each of these three dynamics.
These are slightly more balanced. There are numerous rotation issues to consider. An engineer will look at the following:
These are even more balanced but still require attention to ensure isolation on account of:
While the above are some of the more common, there are many other engine packages that require careful assessment for vibration isolation mounts. Some additional examples are:
It should be clear that vibration isolation requires some careful calculation and in-depth knowledge. Selecting the right isolator should take into account degrees of freedom. The right expert assessment will ensure that you purchase the right vibration isolator.
RPM is a custom manufacturer of the best vibration isolation parts and technology. We work closely with the global leaders in rubber to metal bonding. This blog is part of a recent webinar, co-hosted by leaders within RPM and from Parker LORD, one of RPM's primary partners. RPM sells Parker LORD vibration isolators and other manufactured parts. If you are in the market for a manufactured rubber solution or need a consultation about the right vibration isolator for your application, contact us.